Jerry Grafstein
Encyclopedia
Jerahmiel S. "Jerry" Grafstein (born January 2, 1935) is a former Canadian
Senator
and lawyer.
He is married to Carole (née Sniderman) and has two children, Laurence Stephen and Michael Kevin.
A graduate of the University of Western Ontario
and University of Toronto Law School,
Grafstein is a Toronto-based financier, political fundraiser, advisor and "backroom boy" who has worked on numerous political campaigns for the Liberal Party of Canada
and Ontario Liberal Party
, as well as local Toronto campaigns. A senior advisor to Pierre Trudeau
, Grafstein was appointed to the Senate in January 1984 several weeks prior to Trudeau's retirement.
Since the 1960s, he has been a corporate lawyer, specializing in the areas of communications and administrative law. He has founded several media companies around the world, and is a partner in the legal firm Minden Gross LLP.
In 1972, he was one of the founders of Citytv
. He was also an organizer of the 2003 Molson Canadian Rocks for Toronto
concert to help the city recover from the outbreak of SARS.
In 2003, Grafstein and Canada's Consul General in New York at the time, Pamela Wallin
, were honored by the Canadian Society of New York for devoting much of their careers to strengthening the ties between Canada and the United States.
In the 2003 municipal election
, Grafstein assisted with the unsuccessful campaign of John Nunziata
to become Mayor of Toronto.
In the 2006 Toronto municipal election, Grafstein endorsed City Councillor Jane Pitfield for Mayor of Toronto.
In 2008, Senator Jerry Grafstein started pushing a bill to amend the Library and Archives of Canada Act to require that the National Portrait gallery stay in Ottawa.
He retired as a Senator when he reached the mandatory retirement age of 75 on January 2, 2010.
In early 2010, a consortium made up of Grafstein, Raymond Heard
and Beryl Wajsman announced a bid to purchase the National Post
, Ottawa Citizen
and Montreal Gazette from the floundering CanWest media conglomerate.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
Senator
Canadian Senate
The Senate of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the House of Commons, and the monarch . The Senate consists of 105 members appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister...
and lawyer.
He is married to Carole (née Sniderman) and has two children, Laurence Stephen and Michael Kevin.
A graduate of the University of Western Ontario
University of Western Ontario
The University of Western Ontario is a public research university located in London, Ontario, Canada. The university's main campus covers of land, with the Thames River cutting through the eastern portion of the main campus. Western administers its programs through 12 different faculties and...
and University of Toronto Law School,
Grafstein is a Toronto-based financier, political fundraiser, advisor and "backroom boy" who has worked on numerous political campaigns for the Liberal Party of Canada
Liberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
and Ontario Liberal Party
Ontario Liberal Party
The Ontario Liberal Party is a provincial political party in the province of Ontario, Canada. It has formed the Government of Ontario since the provincial election of 2003. The party is ideologically aligned with the Liberal Party of Canada but the two parties are organizationally independent and...
, as well as local Toronto campaigns. A senior advisor to Pierre Trudeau
Pierre Trudeau
Joseph Philippe Pierre Yves Elliott Trudeau, , usually known as Pierre Trudeau or Pierre Elliott Trudeau, was the 15th Prime Minister of Canada from April 20, 1968 to June 4, 1979, and again from March 3, 1980 to June 30, 1984.Trudeau began his political career campaigning for socialist ideals,...
, Grafstein was appointed to the Senate in January 1984 several weeks prior to Trudeau's retirement.
Since the 1960s, he has been a corporate lawyer, specializing in the areas of communications and administrative law. He has founded several media companies around the world, and is a partner in the legal firm Minden Gross LLP.
In 1972, he was one of the founders of Citytv
Citytv
Citytv is a Canadian English language television system owned and operated by Rogers Communications under its Rogers Broadcasting Ltd. division...
. He was also an organizer of the 2003 Molson Canadian Rocks for Toronto
Molson Canadian Rocks for Toronto
Molson Canadian Rocks for Toronto was a benefit rock concert that was held in Toronto, Ontario, Canada on July 30, 2003. It was also known as "Toronto Rocks", "Stars 4 SARS", "SARSStock", "SARSfest", "SARS-a-palooza", the "SARS concert", or, more descriptively, "The Rolling Stones SARS Benefit...
concert to help the city recover from the outbreak of SARS.
In 2003, Grafstein and Canada's Consul General in New York at the time, Pamela Wallin
Pamela Wallin
Pamela Wallin, OC, SOM is a former Canadian television journalist and diplomat. On January 2, 2009, she was seated in the Canadian Senate, where she sits as a Conservative.-Early life and career:...
, were honored by the Canadian Society of New York for devoting much of their careers to strengthening the ties between Canada and the United States.
In the 2003 municipal election
Toronto municipal election, 2003
The Toronto municipal election of 2003 was held on November 10, 2003, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, to elect the Mayor of Toronto, 44 city councillors, and school board trustees.David Miller was elected mayor ....
, Grafstein assisted with the unsuccessful campaign of John Nunziata
John Nunziata
John Nunziata is a Canadian politician. He served in the Canadian House of Commons from 1984 to 2000, initially as a Liberal and later as an independent member.-Background:...
to become Mayor of Toronto.
In the 2006 Toronto municipal election, Grafstein endorsed City Councillor Jane Pitfield for Mayor of Toronto.
In 2008, Senator Jerry Grafstein started pushing a bill to amend the Library and Archives of Canada Act to require that the National Portrait gallery stay in Ottawa.
He retired as a Senator when he reached the mandatory retirement age of 75 on January 2, 2010.
In early 2010, a consortium made up of Grafstein, Raymond Heard
Raymond Heard
Raymond Heard is a Canadian-South African journalist, editor, media executive and political strategist. He is President of Toronto-based Heard-Cosgrove Communications, whose clients include some of Canada's largest companies....
and Beryl Wajsman announced a bid to purchase the National Post
National Post
The National Post is a Canadian English-language national newspaper based in Don Mills, a district of Toronto. The paper is owned by Postmedia Network Inc. and is published Mondays through Saturdays...
, Ottawa Citizen
Ottawa Citizen
The Ottawa Citizen is an English-language daily newspaper owned by Postmedia Network in Ottawa, Canada. According to the Canadian Newspaper Association, the paper had a 2008 weekly circulation of 900,197.- History :...
and Montreal Gazette from the floundering CanWest media conglomerate.